eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series Race Preview: Logitech G 120 at Phoenix

There’s just one more chance for 2023 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series playoff drivers to earn their way into the Championship 4, and it comes on Tuesday night from the Logitech G 120 at virtual Phoenix Raceway. As always, race coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET at eNASCAR.com/live and across iRacing social media channels, while Countdown to Green will kick off at 8:30 p.m. ET to preview the action.

Last Race: 2020 eNASCAR champion Nick Ottinger became the second driver to earn his way into the Championship 4 two weeks ago at Dover Motor Speedway by finally taking his first checkered flag of the year. After winning his fifth pole of the season, far and away the most of any driver, the William Byron eSports driver took his third straight win at “The Monster Mile” after leading 38 laps and putting enough distance on Stewart-Haas eSports driver Steven Wilson in the final green-flag run to hang on.

Ottinger and Wilson were nose-to-tail for much of the race, pitting within a lap of one another and leading the group of drivers who took fresh rubber at the halfway point. But they’d still have to get around a handful of drivers who stayed out, led by Michigan winner and Championship 4 lock Garrett Lowe of Jim Beaver eSports and fellow playoff driver Jimmy Mullis of Rise Esports. After the final restart, Ottinger would finally reclaim the lead from Lowe on Lap 114, but Wilson would need another three laps to get by, ending his chase for the win. Lowe and Mullis would settle into third and fourth, while Team Dillon eSports’ Tucker Minter completed the top five.

Last Year: In an eNASCAR first, last year’s Phoenix finale saw the Championship 4 drivers compete live from the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte. While none of them would take the checkered flag on the night—that honor went to 2021 series champion Keegan Leahy of 23XI—the title contenders would put on an impressive show nonetheless, with XSET driver Casey Kirwan holding off Joe Gibbs Racing’s Bobby Zalenski for second place, the season title, a $100,000 champion’s prize, and the inaugural Dale Earnhardt Jr. Cup, which Earnhardt Jr. was on hand to present.

Track Facts: What is now known as Phoenix Raceway first opened in 1964. The mile-long oval has always included a unique dogleg on one of its straightaways, but has undergone numerous renovations and improvements over its history, ranging from the addition of progressive banking in 2011 to a complete flip of its layout in 2019 that put the start-finish line after what was once Turn 2. Phoenix has hosted the NASCAR Cup Series since 1988, taking over its season finale in 2020, and it also hosted the first-ever NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race in 1995.

Next Up: Just like last year, the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series season will conclude with a live event at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, as drivers take on Homestead-Miami Speedway on Tuesday, September 26 at 9 p.m. ET. As was the case last year, limited tickets are available to attend the event in person. Wilson won last year’s Homestead race, which served as the 2022 Championship 4 cutoff before flipping spots with Phoenix this year.

For more information on the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series, visit www.enascar.com or www.iracing.com/enascar. For more information on iRacing and for special offers, visit www.iracing.com.

Image via Justin Melillo

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